Canadian Spousal Visa Requirements

Canadian Spousal Visa

Through the Canadian Family Sponsorship Program, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor their partner to immigrate to Canada. In Canada, society provides you with liberal values which makes a favourable place to live, Therefore Canadian Spousal Visa is provided to your partner. Due to the same reason spousal sponsorship is considered as the top priority.

Download Free Immigration and PR Guide PDF

What is a Canada Spousal Visa?

Canada offers an opportunity to settle with the family to the permanent residents or Canadian Citizens. The only way to bring your partner with you is through a Canadian Spousal visa. Under this program, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children. 

What is the Processing Time for Spousal Sponsorship?

Canadian spousal visa process has a time of approx 12 months as the processing duration (they can also take longer duration, depending on your case characteristics). If your case is a complicated one and the visa office requires additional proof of your relationship, in such a scenario, the processing time will increase. 

What are Canadian Spousal Visa requirements?

Who can Sponsor the spouse or common-law partner?

If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent residence of Canada then you can sponsor your partner, unless you meet these requirements:

  1. Must be 18 years old
  2. Live in Canada or must be planning to return once your partner becomes a permanent resident
  3. Must be able to fulfill the basic financial needs of your spouse or partner for three years

What are the Obligations?

When you are going to sponsor your spouse, conjugal partner, or common law partner under a Canadian Spousal Visa, you must be able to fulfill their basic needs. 

You need to ensure that your partner does not require social assistance from the government. If they require so then you must pay that amount as you are legally responsible for that. 

Do I need to have a job to sponsor my spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner in Canada?

No, you do not require a job to sponsor your spouse to Canada. Unlike other sponsorship programs, you are not required to have a minimum income to sponsor your partner. Instead, you are required to fulfill the basic needs of your partner, hence the immigration officer will keep a check on whether you have sufficient funds to do so or not. 

What is the Canadian Spousal Visa Cost?

In this case, you are not required to pay a minimum cost to sponsor your spouse for a Canadian spousal visa, instead, you will have to sign an undertaking, which is a promise to provide financial support for the basic needs of your partner. The length of the undertaking is 3 years from the day the sponsored individual becomes a Canadian citizen. 

Who can be sponsored under Spousal Sponsorship?

Dependent Children

Through spousal sponsorship, you can sponsor your dependent children, who are below the age of 22. The child can have access to all the benefits provided by the Canadian government. 

Common-Law Partner

A couple is known as a common-law partner if they have resided at the same address for 12 months. 

Apart from this feature of joint residence they also need to prove their co-dependency. They can do so by providing proof that they have paid the rent through a joint utility account. 

Individuals who are sponsored under this program can also get open work permits in Canada. 

Conjugal Partners

Couples who can not marry each other or are not able to live together as common-law partners are known as conjugal partners. They have to prove that they were in a serious relationship for at least 1 year. 

They should prove that there is no option available for them. To be eligible for the application, they should provide supporting documents.

Conclusion

A Canadian spousal visa makes you eligible to sponsor your partner as a permanent resident in Canada. If you want your partner to live with you in Canada, who is away from you due to some reason then you can sponsor them under this program. 

There are a few requirements that you need to fulfill, such as eligibility: you must be 18 years old, should be living in Canada or willing to return, and more. These requirements are needed to be fulfilled which are covered above. 

Don’t forget to fill out the form below for some insights and advice from our experts! 

Anamika Pal

Anamika Pal

Expertise in immigration related content creation with the help of research and analysis with a pinch of creativity!

Articles: 25

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *